School of Music Presents 'Video Game Music Re-Imagined' Showcase Concert

Organized by MBET students, the show features arrangements and adaptations of video game music for live ensembles

October 21, 2013

The University of the Arts is proud to announce its first concert featuring arrangements and adaptations of video game music for live ensembles. Organized by students in the Music Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology program, “Video Game Music Re-Imagined” includes video game music from the original NES through today's console generation, reinterpreted and rearranged for UArts ensembles, featuring big band groups, rock groups, choirs and world instruments by some of the best students, faculty and composers at UArts.

The concert will take place at Caplan Recital Hall (211 S. Broad Street) on Friday, November 8 at 7 p.m., with a matinee on Saturday, November 9 at 1 p.m. The show is free for all UArts students, staff and faculty; general admission is $10 at the door.

As part of “Video Game Music Re-Imagined,” three guest video game composers will perform their pieces live. Tom Salta will premiere a live performance of his music for “Halo: Spartan Assault” featuring Jillian Aversa on vocals and Andrew Aversa will premiere an arrangement of the main theme from “Return All Robots!”

On Friday, November 8 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Tom, Jillian and Andrew will present seminars, focusing on the business, art and craft of professional composing, using real-world examples and drawing upon their experiences as professional composers. The seminars are open to all UArts students, faculty and staff.

Throughout the 20th century, jazz composers and arrangers have taken the popular music of the times and used the thematic, harmonic and melodic content as a springboard for brand-new interpretations in the jazz, rock and world music scene. In today's world, a video game theme is every bit as melodic and memorable as a Gershwin or McCartney tune. The University of the Arts composers and arrangers have taken these memorable tunes (many of which were written with 8-bit audio technology) and arranged them for professional ensembles. Alternate harmonies, interludes and different instrumentation: all are used to give these songs a new, exuberant style.

About the ComposersTom Salta is a renowned composer for video games, film and television. He has scored games such as “HALO: Combat Evolved Anniversary,” “Ghost Recon: Future Soldier,” “From Dust,” “Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands,” “Red Steel” (IGN Award for Best Original Score), Tom Clancy's “Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter” and Tom Clancy's “H.A.W.X” series. He is also an active speaker and evangelist, having spoken at the Game Developer's Conference and AES in New York City.

Andrew Aversa is an award-winning composer and electronic music artist, who is active both in the album music industry and scoring original music for games. His notable credits include scoring the console games “Soul Caliber V,” “Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension,” and the re-mixing/re-orchestration of the LucasArts’ classic “Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge.” As an artist, Andrew has released over 10 albums, several of which have garnered awards.

Jillian Aversa is an award-winning vocalist, songwriter and performer whose shimmering voice has appeared in a medley of projects, from video games, film and hit dance singles to her original solo albums. Her ethereal vocals can be heard in blockbuster video game franchises “Halo” (Microsoft), “God of War” (Sony), “Civilization” (Firaxis) and “Soul Calibur V” (Namco Bandai) for which she co-composed the ending theme. She is also a prolific album artist, having released “Origins” and the holiday EP titled “Through Sand and Snow.”